abp-application-layer

ABP Application Layer Patterns

Docs: https://abp.io/docs/latest/framework/architecture/domain-driven-design/application-services

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• Entity name in method: use GetAsync not GetBookAsync
• ID inside UpdateDto: pass id as a separate parameter, not inside the DTO
• Calling other app services in the same module: use domain services or repositories directly
• Using IFormFile/Stream in app service: accept byte[] from controllers instead
• Business logic in app service: put it in domain entities or domain services

Application Service Structure

Interface (Application.Contracts)

public interface IBookAppService : IApplicationService
{
    Task<BookDto> GetAsync(Guid id);
    Task<PagedResultDto<BookListItemDto>> GetListAsync(GetBookListInput input);
    Task<BookDto> CreateAsync(CreateBookDto input);
    Task<BookDto> UpdateAsync(Guid id, UpdateBookDto input);
    Task DeleteAsync(Guid id);
}

Implementation (Application)

public class BookAppService : ApplicationService, IBookAppService
{
    private readonly IBookRepository _bookRepository;
    private readonly BookManager _bookManager;
    private readonly BookMapper _bookMapper;

    public BookAppService(
        IBookRepository bookRepository,
        BookManager bookManager,
        BookMapper bookMapper)
    {
        _bookRepository = bookRepository;
        _bookManager = bookManager;
        _bookMapper = bookMapper;
    }

    public async Task<BookDto> GetAsync(Guid id)
    {
        var book = await _bookRepository.GetAsync(id);
        return _bookMapper.MapToDto(book);
    }

    [Authorize(BookStorePermissions.Books.Create)]
    public async Task<BookDto> CreateAsync(CreateBookDto input)
    {
        var book = await _bookManager.CreateAsync(input.Name, input.Price);
        await _bookRepository.InsertAsync(book);
        return _bookMapper.MapToDto(book);
    }

    [Authorize(BookStorePermissions.Books.Edit)]
    public async Task<BookDto> UpdateAsync(Guid id, UpdateBookDto input)
    {
        var book = await _bookRepository.GetAsync(id);
        await _bookManager.ChangeNameAsync(book, input.Name);
        book.SetPrice(input.Price);
        await _bookRepository.UpdateAsync(book);
        return _bookMapper.MapToDto(book);
    }
}

Application Service Best Practices

• Don't repeat entity name in method names (GetAsync not GetBookAsync)
• Accept/return DTOs only, never entities
• ID not inside UpdateDto - pass separately
• Use custom repositories when you need custom queries, generic repository is fine for simple CRUD
• Call UpdateAsync explicitly (don't assume change tracking)
• Don't call other app services in same module
• Don't use IFormFile/Stream - pass byte[] from controllers
• Use base class properties (Clock, CurrentUser, GuidGenerator, L) instead of injecting these services

DTO Naming Conventions

DTO Location

• Define DTOs in *.Application.Contracts project
• This allows sharing with clients (Blazor, HttpApi.Client)

Validation

Data Annotations

public class CreateBookDto
{
    [Required]
    [StringLength(100, MinimumLength = 3)]
    public string Name { get; set; }

    [Range(0, 999.99)]
    public decimal Price { get; set; }
}

Custom Validation with IValidatableObject

Before adding custom validation, decide if it's a domain rule or application rule:

• Domain rule: Put validation in entity constructor or domain service (enforces business invariants)
• Application rule: Use DTO validation (input format, required fields)

Only use IValidatableObject for application-level validation that can't be expressed with data annotations:

public class CreateBookDto : IValidatableObject
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Description { get; set; }

    public IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(ValidationContext validationContext)
    {
        if (Name == Description)
        {
            yield return new ValidationResult(
                "Name and Description cannot be the same!",
                new[] { nameof(Name), nameof(Description) }
            );
        }
    }
}

FluentValidation

public class CreateBookDtoValidator : AbstractValidator<CreateBookDto>
{
    public CreateBookDtoValidator()
    {
        RuleFor(x => x.Name).NotEmpty().Length(3, 100);
        RuleFor(x => x.Price).GreaterThan(0);
    }
}

Error Handling

Business Exceptions

throw new BusinessException("BookStore:010001")
    .WithData("BookName", name);

Entity Not Found

var book = await _bookRepository.FindAsync(id);
if (book == null)
{
    throw new EntityNotFoundException(typeof(Book), id);
}

User-Friendly Exceptions

throw new UserFriendlyException(L["BookNotAvailable"]);

HTTP Status Code Mapping

Status code mapping is configurable in ABP (do not rely on a fixed mapping in business logic).

Auto API Controllers

ABP automatically generates API controllers for application services:

• Interface must inherit IApplicationService (which already has [RemoteService] attribute)
• HTTP methods determined by method name prefix (Get, Create, Update, Delete)
• Use [RemoteService(false)] to disable auto API generation for specific methods

Object Mapping (Mapperly / AutoMapper)

ABP supports both Mapperly and AutoMapper integrations. But the default mapping library is Mapperly. You need to first check the project's active mapping library.

• Prefer the mapping provider already used in the solution (check existing mapping files / loaded modules).
• In mixed solutions, explicitly setting the default provider may be required (see docs/en/release-info/migration-guides/AutoMapper-To-Mapperly.md).

Mapperly (compile-time)

Define mappers as partial classes:

[Mapper]
public partial class BookMapper
{
    public partial BookDto MapToDto(Book book);
    public partial List<BookDto> MapToDtoList(List<Book> books);
}

Register in module:

public override void ConfigureServices(ServiceConfigurationContext context)
{
    context.Services.AddSingleton<BookMapper>();
}

Usage in application service:

public class BookAppService : ApplicationService
{
    private readonly BookMapper _bookMapper;

    public BookAppService(BookMapper bookMapper)
    {
        _bookMapper = bookMapper;
    }

    public BookDto GetBook(Book book)
    {
        return _bookMapper.MapToDto(book);
    }
}

Note: Mapperly generates mapping code at compile-time, providing better performance than runtime mappers.

AutoMapper (runtime)

If the solution uses AutoMapper, mappings are typically defined in Profile classes and registered via ABP's AutoMapper integration.